Google Pixel 4a 5G unboxing and hands on - The Goldilocks Google phone - Android

The Google Pixel 4a 5G is here, offering a good mix of the Pixel 4a and Pixel 5. But how does it feel to use?

Now that the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 are official, we’ve got three different Pixels to choose from this year. There’s the Pixel 4a, which costs a cool $349, the 4a 5G, which adds some faster networking, a faster processor, and an extra camera for $499, and the Pixel 5, which adds a premium build, wireless charging, a 90Hz display, water resistance, and a bigger battery, for $699.

Between those three, the 4a 5G seems like the middle ground a lot of people are looking for. It has the biggest display of the three at 6.2-inches, the wide-angle camera everyone wanted last year, and a chip that’s perfectly future-proof with 5G connectivity. While it still lacks the extras like wireless charging and a 90Hz display sported on the Pixel 5, a lot of people won’t care about those things, and just want something that works for a good price.

Lucky for you guys, we’ve just got a 4a 5G in our hands. Let’s take a look, shall we?

See also: Google Pixel 5 vs Pixel 4a 5G vs Pixel 4a: Which should you buy?

What’s in the box?

Inside the box for the Pixel 4a 5G, you’ll find the phone, alongside a quick start guide, an 18W power brick, a power cable, and a female USB-A to male USB-C adapter. This is pretty much the standard fare for Pixels these days, though some might be a bit bummed when other devices often come with extras like headphones.

We should note that while 18W is fine for charging speed, it’s beginning to lag behind compared to other devices. Even budget devices like the OnePlus Nord commonly see 25W, 30W or more, and it would be nice to see Google move to faster charging soon. Still, the fairly large 3,885mAh battery should hopefully last longer than Pixels of the past. Cough Pixel 4 cough.

How’s the build quality?

Next to the Pixel 4a, the Pixel 4a 5G feels pretty massive. There’s a big difference between the 5.8-inch screen on the 4a and the to a 6.2-inch one on the 4a 5G, but otherwise, they look quite similar. They’re both made of the same polycarbonate material which in my opinion, feels pretty great. While they might not feel quite as premium as glass phones, they certainly feel sturdy, and higher quality than the plastic on the Pixel 3a. Plus, they most likely won’t break when you drop them. I’m a fan.

Probably the more notable difference between the Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a 5G is the rear camera module. While they’re both fundamentally the same shape, the Pixel 4a 5G has two cameras, a 12MP main sensor, and a 16MP wide sensor, while the Pixel 4a only rocks that main 12MP shooter. If you’re someone who takes a lot of landscape photos or likes to get a lot in your shot, this could be a big deal, especially considering Astrophotography is generally taken with wide-angle cameras.